w. presenter Joanne Woodward at the ceremonies in 1962

Born in Santa Barbara, CA. Former head of the sound department at Samuel Goldwyn Studios and a member of the Scientific and Technical Awards Committee at the Academy from 1936 to 1977, he claimed that the list of past awards, arranged both chronologically and by category, represented a history of the development of motion pictures. After his death, an Honorary Award (an Oscar® statuette) was established in his name (the Gordon E. Sawyer Award) to recognize "an individual in the motion picture industry whose technological contributions have brought credit to the industry." Recommendations for this award have customarily been made through the Scientific and Technical Awards Committee.  Nominated for Sound Recording 1945: WONDER MAN  Nominated for Sound Recording 1946: THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES  Nominated for Sound Recording 1951: I WANT YOU  Nominated for Sound Recording 1952: HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN  Nominated for Sound Recording 1956: FRIENDLY PERSUASION (w. Gordon R. Glennan)  Nominated for Sound Recording 1957: WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION  Nominated for Sound Recording 1958: I WANT TO LIVE!  Nominated for Sound Recording 1959: PORGY AND BESS  Sound Recording 1960: THE ALAMO (w. Fred Hynes)  Nominated for Sound Recording 1960: THE APARTMENT  Nominated for Sound Recording 1961: THE CHILDREN'S HOUR  Sound Recording 1961: WEST SIDE STORY (w. Fred Hynes)  Nominated for Sound Recording 1963: IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD  Nominated for Sound Recording 1966: HAWAII  Honorary Award 1977: "Presented in appreciation for outstanding service and dedication in upholding the high standards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences." Winner presented with a Medal of Commendation. 14 nominations, 2 Awards, 1 Honorary Award